How do secondary characters such as Richard Vanderwhile, Viktor Stepanovich, the Bishop, and Osip affect the Count’s life? Consider their effects on his beliefs, his experiences, and his escape from the Metropol. What does the fact that the Count relies on his friends from the Metropol to plan his escape suggest about the ultimate message of the novel?

How does the Count’s relationship with Nina carry on in his relationship with Sofia? How does he carry on Nina’s memory? In what ways does Sofia show herself to be not only Nina’s daughter but, in some ways, the Count’s?

Why does the Count send Sofia to America, and why does he choose to stay in Russia? What are the signs, throughout the novel, that suggest he feels he belongs in Russia?